Following the team with a unique perspective on all things Phillies.Email me: PhilliesPhollowers@comcast.net – Peace, Love & Baseball – Jenn

Halladay Loses To The Reds

The Phillies squandered an opportunity for a series win today, losing to the Reds by a score of 3-4.Roy Halladay has now lost 6 of his last 9 games, even though he has pitched at a 3.19 ERA during those 9 games.He did not have his best stuff today, allowing 2 big homers and 13 hits in an 8-inning complete game.But as has been the case all year, the offense did little to help him out.

It looked like the back-up players might carry the team for the second day in a row when 3rd string catcher Dane Sardinha hit a 3-run homer in the 4th inning.Wilson Valdez had 2 hits again and Greg Dobbs had a hit and a walk.But with both Jimmy Rollins and Raul Ibanez going 0 for 4, no Chase Utley or Placido Polanco, the offense did not get anything else done.

Games like these are when the Phillies are going to feel the full effect of having 7 players on the DL.The injuries are out of control and as a result, this is going to be a very rough ride for the rest of the season.

Yesterday, Brad Lidge said that the Phillies players were going to have to “step-up” during this trying time.I found that comical after Lidge became the only player yesterday who did not step-up.However, he has a point.The question remains though, can these bench guys get the job done?

Once the team has a better idea of how long Utley and Polanco will be out, GM Ruben Amaro Jr. is going to have some very serious decisions to make.Can they go out and get a descent infielder while still adding to the pitching depth?All Phillies fans can do right now is hang in there and hope that this team can weather the storm.

The Phillies are on their way to Pittsburgh now for a 4-game series.The first game is Thursday night at 7:05pm and Cole Hamels will pitch.

3 Comments

Halladay is an amazing pitcher, sometimes equalling a baseball Superman, but he does have his kryptonite.
Sometimes if you can lay off his tempting pitches just outside the zone, he will try and squeeze one by you and you are sitting on the bench.
But with that is the tragic tale of someone getting good wood on it and sending it and Halladay down in defeat.
Starting to think the Phillies might be hiring more Trainers soon to take care of the walking wounded that have plaqued your team lately.
It is almost unheard of to have 7 guys on the DL…in an entire season much less a small period of time.
This is where your team will find out the character of its remaining players, plus the intelligewnce and moxyof your front office.

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